Lottery fraud: Nigerian held in Vizag

A Nigerian Frido Ambrose (34), who allegedly extracted Rs.2.32 lakh from a girl in a lottery fraud, was arrested by the city police.

The girl received an SMS and an e-mail from some online fraudsters saying that she had won an international lottery of one million pounds. She was asked to pay Rs.12 lakh to claim the prize money.

The girl, who is a student, believed the words of Frido and convinced her parents that they could become rich after paying Rs.12 lakh. The family members sold their gold ornaments and the girl deposited Rs.2.31 lakh in various bank accounts, opened in fictitious names.

After deceiving the girl of Rs.2.31 lakh in the name of processing fee, customs and other charges, the online fraudsters again communicated to her seeking payment of the remaining amount to claim the prize, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Gajuwaka) K.V. Ramana said.

The fraudsters promised to give her gold coins worth Rs.5 lakh in the near future on getting the remaining amount.

Realising that she was cheated, the victim, with the help of some women’s organisations, laid a trap to nab the fraudster. She offered to pay part of the remaining amount only after getting the gold coins by hand in Visakhapatnam.

Frido Ambrose came to the city on Wednesday to collect the money from the girl and deliver a gift pack.

The girl took him to a predetermined place, where some other women were waiting. The accused gave her the gift packet. On opening the packet, the victim found some bottles instead of gold coins. The accused was given a sound thrashing by the girl and the other women before being handed over to the Gajuwaka police.

Slideshow

Workers carryingout repairs to Visakhapatnam District Collector's Office, as it was damaged in Cyclone Hudhud in 2014 October. The majestic heritage building was designed and built by Dutch engineering company Gannon Dunkerly in 1865 and completed by 1914. Photos: C.V. Subrahmanyam